Israel's Foreign Ministry on Monday claimed that official Hamas documents seized in the Gaza Strip verify the terror organization's hand in funding and planning the 'Sumud' flotilla bound for Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes some 50 civilian ships and activists from more than 40 nations, aims to break Israel's naval blockade, imposed since 2007, and send food and medical supplies to Palestinians.
On Monday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry published excerpts from the Hamas documents with translations and photos illustrating some of the flotilla organizers with senior Hamas leaders.
"Hamas documents that were unearthed in the Gaza Strip, and are being made public for the first time, demonstrate a direct connection between the leaders of the flotilla and the Hamas terrorist organization.". While Hamas in the Gaza Strip is accountable for what occurs within the Strip, Hamas Abroad is accountable for activity beyond the Gaza Strip, with focus on the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) organisation, which is under the control of Hamas and acting as a wing of the movement," the Ministry said.
The statement went on to say that the PCPA, which was created in 2018, serves as Hamas' representative overseas, effectively Hamas' embassies. It asserted that the organization presents itself with civilian cover while organizing actions against Israel such as violent demonstrations, marches, and flotilla provocations.
The first official Hamas document was discovered in the Gaza Strip - a 2021 letter signed by Head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, directly and explicitly appealing to the PCPA chairman for unity. In the letter, Haniyeh openly supports the PCPA organization. It must be pointed out that Israel declared the PCPA as a terrorist organization in 2021 as it is a branch of Hamas," the Ministry added.
The Ministry highlighted a second Hamas document listing PCPA operatives, including several high-ranking and well-known members.
"Among the individuals on the list are Zaher Birawi, the head of the PCPA's Hamas department in the UK, and a well-known figure as a leader of the protest flotillas to the Gaza Strip during the last 15 years (number 19 in the document), and Saif Abu Kashk (document number 25), an operational member of the organization in Spain.". This report was discovered in a Hamas base in the Gaza Strip and confirms once more their direct link between the leaders of the flotilla and Hamas," the release stated.
The Ministry also added, "Aside from being a Hamas-aligned PCPA agent, Abu Kashk is the CEO of Cyber Neptune, a Spain-based front company which is owned dozens of the vessels taking part in the 'Sumud' flotilla. That means these vessels are secretly owned by Hamas."
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